Yankees Defend Aaron Judge After Criticism from Coach at Little League World Series

The manager of the South Shore Little League baseball team from Staten Island, Bob Laterza, wasn't happy when Aaron Judge didn't meet with the team ahead of Sunday's MLB Little League Classic game in Williamsport or acknowledge them during the contest itself.

"How about turning around or wave to New York and the kids that think you're a hero?" he told Nick Regina of SILive.com after Judge, noting that his players were only a few rows behind home plate and calling out to the slugger while he was in the batter's box. "They are the ones who pay your salary. ... They were disappointed. Maybe he'll want to make up for it and come and see them."

Laterza's bunch were in Williamsport to participate in the Little League World Series, though they were eliminated on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the Yankees—who reportedly were "livid" following the comments, per Dan Martin of the New York Post—released the following statement:

"Our entire roster spent the day in Williamsport connecting with as many Little Leaguers as they possibly could prior to our game, including the team from Staten Island. We commend all of our players for devoting their complete attention to the hundreds of kids who literally walked step-by-step alongside them from the moment the Yankees landed in Williamsport through the entirety of the evening. Our players were unequivocally committed to making the experience what it was intended to be—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young baseball players and their families from around the world to have meaningful and genuine interaction with some of Major League Baseball's greatest players."

The Yankees noted that Judge and other Yankees players were busy signing autographs for Little Leaguers on Sunday and had nothing to do with how the day in question was scheduled.

"In fact, because Staten Island played on Sunday our players went out of their way to spend time with them in the moments immediately before our game with the Tigers," the statement noted.

The Yankees added that the Staten Island team would still be invited to Yankee Stadium despite Laterza's comments.

"However, it would have been much better if Staten Island's Coach called us to understand the facts before bitterly reacting in such a public fashion," the team said. "Reaching out to us would have been the prudent way to act and would have set a fine example for his young players. Judge always acts with kindness and respect. The coach could learn a lot from him."